Patent · US Expired

Metal-air cathode can, and electrochemical cell made therewith

US6040074A · kind A · utility

3Cited by
40References
46Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 30, 1997
Grant dateMar 21, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 30, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E60/10
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

This invention pertains to metal-air electrochemical cells wherein one or more air entry ports is located in the bottom of the cathode can, to provide for entry of oxygen-rich air into the cathode can, where the oxygen participates in the electrochemical reaction whereby the cell produces electrical energy. In this invention, extremely small air ports are provided, along with methods of reliably fabricating such small air ports Generally, the use of an increased number of small air ports distributed over the bottom of the cathode can, opposite the reaction surface of the cathode assembly, wherein the overall open area of the ports is not increased, results in less moisture traversing the air ports, into or out of the cell. Accordingly, moisture loss, or gain, as a function of electrical energy produced, is thereby reduced.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.